Posted on 08/24/2005 6:12:48 AM PDT by snowsislander
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Saddam Hussein has fired his legal defense team except for an Iraqi attorney who is the only person authorized to represent him, a court said Wednesday.
A statement by the Iraqi Special Tribunal said Saddam was questioned Monday about news reports that he had fired all his lawyers except for Iraqi attorney Khalil al-Dulaimi.
``Mr. Saddam confirmed that he canceled all the power of attorneys and fired them,'' the statement said. ``At present, his only authorized defense counsel is Mr. Khalil.''
The statement said al-Dulaimi will seek formal permission from the tribunal to serve as sole legal counsel to the ousted dictator, although he has attended interrogation sessions held by tribunal investigators.
Judge Raid Juhi asked Saddam whether he wanted any international lawyers, counselors or advisers to assist in his defense and Saddam said no, the statement added.
Saddam's family announced in Jordan on Aug. 8 that they had dismissed the 1,500-member Arab and Western defense team. Saddam's family provided few details in a statement signed by the former Iraqi leader's eldest daughter, Raghad, who lives in Jordan.
The announcement said only that the family has hired al-Dulaimi and would ``rearrange the legal defense campaign.''
Saddam is to face the first of perhaps a dozen trials before the Iraqi Special Tribunal in the coming months. Last month, the tribunal accused Saddam and three others in the 1982 massacre of about 150 Shiites in the town of Dujail north of Baghdad, killings allegedly carried out in retaliation for a failed assassination attempt against Saddam.
He could receive the death penalty if convinced.
What the hell did they hire the A to L in the trial lawyers directory?
I believe that most of the lawyers were self-selected, including the ubiquitous former Attorney General Ramsey Clark.
Just a delaying tactic. Doesn't want to be fitted for that hemp necktie.
He should have worn that particular accoutrement long ago. It's absurd to make even the pretense that he is innocent. He should have been sentenced and executed long ago.
Should've been shot coming out of that "spider hole".
Isn't this old news?
Didn;t he fire all his lawyers, except one
Iraqi lawyer, about a month ago?
Yes, a month or so ago. How he hired 1500 new ones in that time is an amazing stat, though.
C'mon, Hussein, Milosevic has been holding his own in a toe-to-toe battle with an army of lawyers. What's the matter, not good enough to defend yourself, or just chicken?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.